Modernizing a High-Reliability Technical Company: Managing Knowledge Risk and AI Integration in a Regulated Environment

This embedded scholar-practitioner case study examines how a mid-sized U.S. non-destructive testing company serving the aerospace and nuclear sectors modernizes its operations while reducing institutional knowledge risk, introducing AI-enabled documentation and workflow systems, and restructuring technician roles and compensation. Drawing on dynamic capabilities, knowledge-based, socio-technical and organizational fit perspectives, and on workforce, process, performance and observational data, it documents how modernization unfolds in a low-error-tolerance, compliance-driven environment, with early observations pointing to improved workflow clarity, operational consistency and reduced knowledge dependency.